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Last week we took a look at the best Offensive performances by both the Colts and the rest of the NFL, and we saw the Colts had a couple standout games, and were on the receiving end of a couple of the best games the NFL saw all season. This week we'll look at the best Defensive performances, and as you can guess, almost all of them came in one game for the Colts.
| Statistic | Opponent | Week | Score | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSR | Bengals | 7 | 27-0 | 39.7% |
| ANPY/A | Browns | 14 | 25-24 | 1.967 |
| Turnovers | Ravens | 5 | 20-13 | 3.17 |
| Yds/Drive | Bengals | 7 | 27-0 | 10.96 |
| ToP/Drive | Bengals | 7 | 27-0 | 1:31.9 |
| Yds/Play | Bengals | 7 | 27-0 | 2.553 |
| Orange Zone Eff | Bengals | 7 | 27-0 | 3.7% |
| First Downs/Drive | Bengals | 7 | 27-0 | 0.72 |
| 3rd/4th Down | Bengals | 7 | 27-0 | 9.3% |
| Avg Start Pos | Ravens | 5 | 20-13 | 18.1 |
| 3 and Outs | Bengals | 7 | 27-0 | 9.89 |
| RZ Eff | Bengals | 7 | 27-0 | -0.4% |
| Plays/Drive | Bengals | 7 | 27-0 | 4.121 |
| Penalty Yds / Play | Eagles | 2 | 27-30 | 1.374 |
| RB Success | Bengals | 7 | 27-0 | 18.8% |
| Yds/Carry | Bengals | 7 | 27-0 | 2.53 |
- Yep, 12 of the 16 statistics were the Colts best of the season in Week 7 against the Bengals. It was one of those games you rarely see, especially from the Colts. It was the best Defensive game the Colts have had since I started tracking stats back in 2001, but was just the 16th best game of the NFL season. Still pretty spectacular.
- The Drive Stats are the biggest win for the Colts, with stats that were near the top of the NFL this season. If you remember, the Bengals had 8 Three and Outs before they finally gained a first down. But these numbers are staggering: 11 Yards per Drive, less than one First Downs per Drive, and just four Plays per Drive.
- Throw in not allowing any points from the Orange/Red Zone and stuffing the Bengals rushing attack, and it caps off an historic performance from the Colts Defense.
- The best game against the pass was against the Browns, causing Brian Hoyer to lose his starting job to Johnny Manziel, giving up less than two Adjusted Net Passing Yards per Attempt. They also held Josh Gordon to just two catches and 14 yards, an impressive feat no matter the QB throwing to him.
- The best game creating Turnovers? The Ravens in Week 5, forcing three of them against an above-average team. How things could have been very different to end the season if they'd just held on to either of their two TD leads in Foxboro...
Here's the overall NFL bests, and the Colts top our #1 stat:
| Statistic | Team | Opponent | Week | Score | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSR | Colts | Bengals | 7 | 27-0 | 39.7% |
| ANPY/A | Bengals | Browns | 15 | 30-0 | -1.216 |
| Turnovers | Bills | Jets | 8 | 43-23 | 6.03 |
| Yds/Drive | Panthers | Cardinals | 18 | 27-16 | 8.20 |
| ToP/Drive | Texans | Ravens | 16 | 25-13 | 1:26.7 |
| Yds/Play | Panthers | Cardinals | 18 | 27-16 | 2.089 |
| Orange Zone Eff | Rams | Broncos | 11 | 22-7 | -11.2% |
| First Downs/Drive | Panthers | Cardinals | 18 | 27-16 | 0.65 |
| 3rd/4th Down | Patriots | Bengals | 5 | 43-17 | 2.1% |
| Avg Start Pos | Chiefs | Patriots | 4 | 41-14 | 12.6 |
| 3 and Outs | Colts | Bengals | 7 | 27-0 | 9.89 |
| RZ Eff | Rams | Raiders | 13 | 52-0 | -13.7% |
| Plays/Drive | Panthers | Cardinals | 18 | 27-16 | 3.515 |
| Penalty Yds / Play | Vikings | Patriots | 2 | 7-30 | 2.609 |
| RB Success | Cowboys | Colts | 16 | 42-7 | 2.6% |
| Yds/Carry | Cowboys | Colts | 16 | 42-7 | 0.35 |
- Two of the Colts stats against the Bengals, Drive Success Rate and Three and Outs, led the NFL this season, making it the first time that I can ever remember the Colts having the best game in the NFL defensively in a stat. League-average DSR is just under 70%, which puts into perspective just how good that performance was.
- The Colts also show up twice on the flip side for their disastrous running game against the Cowboys. Clearly that wasn't the reason they lost that game, but it certainly was extremely bad.
- That Playoff performance by the Panthers against the Cardinals was part great Defense, and part putrid QB play, but it shows up four times here, all in drive stats. Boy was that a rough game to watch.
- Every time good ol' Johnny Football dropped back to pass against the Bengals in Week 15, he lost a little over a yard. That's not how to play the position.
- I know the Broncos laid a giant egg when they went to St. Louis, but they only got past the Rams 35 one time and didn't score any points. Man that was bad.